Ruud awakening for Everton as United take lead

Ruud van Nistelrooy, who managed only six league goals in a injury-wrecked last season, put Manchester United ahead in the first half at Goodison Park.

Former Everton star Wayne Rooney helped create the opening and the Dutchman hammered home John O’Shea’s cross.

Everton took their time to get into the match, but almost scored on 34 minutes when Marcus Bent, on as a substitute for injured striker James Beattie, had a shot deflected onto the bar.

On the half hour, Scholes’ swerving drive after Roy Keane’s free-kick was held by Martyn.

Everton were producing their customary all-action midfield resistance and conceding a lot of free-kicks. Referee Graham Poll finally lost patience and booked Alessandro Pistone for a foul on Rooney after 32 minutes.

Two minutes later Everton almost took the lead when Joseph Yobo nodded a cross down for Bent, whose fierce drive was deflected onto the bar and over. Next into the book was Scholes for a foul on his former team-mate Phil Neville.

Yobo then almost got onto the end of Mikel Arteta’s free-kick on the far post with John O’Shea’s outstretched leg intervening.

Van Nistelrooy then went down in the box under pressure from Yobo, claiming he had been pulled back, but referee Poll ignored the appeals.

Two minutes from the break United were ahead and Rooney was heavily involved. The teenager moved purposefully from midfield and found O’Shea overlapping on the left. The Irishman fired in a low cross and van Nistelrooy was there to hammer it into the roof of the net.